Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meets visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her office in the capital on Thursday. Photo courtesy of High Commission of India, Dhaka

Saying that India's Rajya Sabha is actively considering the issue of a land boundary agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh, visiting Indian external affairs minister today assured that the deal would be signed soon, according to the foreign minister.
Regarding the signing of the much-awaited Teesta water sharing deal, Minister AH Mahmood Ali said: "The Indian side informed us that they are having internal consultation to reach a consensus."

Ali disclosed these at a press briefing after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.
Swaraj flew in last night on a three-day goodwill visit, her first foreign trip after taking oath as a minister on the Narendra Modi's government.
In regard to security issue, Bangladesh assured India that it would not allow anyone to run terrorist activists against India or any country in the world using its territory, the minister added.
India appreciated the Bangladesh government efforts regarding India’s security concerns, he added.
Replying to queries on bringing back Nur Hossain, the main accused in gruesome abduction and killing of seven persons including Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam, the foreign minister said, "We have discussed the issue of getting back him from India.

SIMPLIED VISA PROCESS
Asked about the process for Indian visa, the foreign minister said India has agreed to simplify the visa process.
India has agreed to provide five-year multiple entry visas for under-13 and 65 plus Bangladeshis, he said.

MODI INVITES HASINA TO INDIA
The Indian minister met PM Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister’s Office at 11:30am.
There, Swaraj handed over a letter of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hasina inviting her to visit India.
In the letter, Modi said, “… For us, Bangladesh is not merely a neighbour, but a nation with which we share history, culture, civilisation and enduring links between people. The emotional bonds of Bangladesh’s birth as an independent nation and the ideals of democracy, secularism, pluralism and rule of law also serve as a link between India and Bangladesh.”
“I am delighted to accept your kind invitation to visit Bangladesh. I also take this opportunity to extend an invitation to you to visit India at your earliest convenience...,” the foreign minister quoted Modi as saying in the letter.